The Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal has raised many questions that local residents are still struggling to answer. In an effort to address those issues and raise awareness of local resources for victims of sexual abuse, the Centre County Women’s Resource Center and the State Theatre invite the community at 7 p.m. Jan. 29 to a screening and discussion of a documentary in which individuals share stories of being victimized by an accused serial molester in a tight-knit Oklahoma community.

Directed by Patrick Viersen Brown, “In a Town This Size” tells the story of alleged child sexual abuse by Dr. William H. Dougherty, a pediatrician in Bartlesville, Okla. The panel discussion will be moderated by Kristen Houser, vice president of communications and development for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape. In addition to Brown, panelists will include Matt Bodenschatz, a Penn State student who claims to have been sexually abused as a child; Julie Price, a certified child life specialist; Pamela McCloskey, a licensed psychologist; and Marolyn Morford, a clinical and developmental psychologist. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the resource center, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower survivors of sexual or domestic violence.

“In planning this event, we identified documentaries that focused on childhood sexual abuse,” said Mary Faulkner, director of counseling and advocacy services at the resource center. “We saw important parallels with the events featured in ‘In A Town This Size’ and Jerry Sandusky’s indictment here in Centre County.”

The funds that are generated from the event, Faulkner said, will be used to develop support groups for survivors of sexual abuse and their significant others.

“In a Town This Size” is Brown’s personal narrative. He alleges to have been abused by Dougherty as a child, and stories are told through interviews with seven other alleged victims, their families and mental health professionals. In 2011, the film won the award for best documentary at the Bare Bones International Independent Film Festival and was nominated for best documentary by Trail Dance Film Festival.

Brown, a fine arts photographer who divides his time between Los Angeles and New York City, said he began shooting the documentary in 2004 partly out of frustration with legal roadblocks that helped Dougherty evade criminal prosecution. According to www.sol-reform.com, Oklahoma’s statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse states that victims have two years after the last incident of abuse to file their claims.

“There was no legal remedy, so I decided to take the artistic remedy and make a film about it,” Brown said.

“In a Town This Size,” Brown’s debut film, was mostly self-funded. Since completing the film in 2010, he has been screening it across the country, with all proceeds benefiting nonprofit child advocacy organizations.

Brown claims that between 1966 and 1971, he was fondled by Dougherty during routine examinations. After the second or third incident, Brown said, he told his family about the abuse.

“Their response was that I had misinterpreted something,” he said.

Brown said he believes that the conservative culture of the Oklahoma heartland and the lack of awareness of child sexual abuse 40 years ago enabled Dougherty to continue his crimes. In addition, Brown said, Dougherty was an expert at ingratiating himself with community members — particularly single mothers — who enabled him access to their children.

“There’s a private and a public reality,” Houser said. “Absolutely, people will use their power, position and community trust as a shield to cover bad actions.”

While some people called the police to report Dougherty’s alleged actions, Brown said, many of them quickly changed their minds about pressing charges.

“I think that people get really confused about how to respond to suspicions and rumors,” Houser said. “People (think they) need incontrovertible proof before they can make a report.”

Brown said he thinks that too much of the dialogue on the Sandusky scandal has been centered on its repercussions on Penn State and its football program. He said he hopes that the screening and discussion of “In a Town This Size,” shifts the focus to where it belongs —on the alleged victims.

“The bravery of those young men who spoke to the grand jury about their experience is something that really needs to be commended because it took courage,” he said.

While Brown never had the chance to share his story with a grand jury, he said making the film was an “incredibly empowering experience.” His work has inspired at least one other individual to come forward. After a screening in Bartlesville in October, he said, one of the alleged victims in the film, who was interviewed in darkness, took the microphone and told the audience, “I will not be in the shadows anymore.”